Flashing and Setting Up DD-WRT-based Firmware

Here’s an overview of how to reflash a third party access point (AP) with DD-WRT firmware containing the Sputnik Agent, and set it up for use with Sputnik Control Center or SputnikNet.

Please note: complete documentation for flashing your wireless access point is maintained at www.dd-wrt.com. There are useful instructions in the documentation Wiki. We strongly recommend that you review these instructions as different access points may require slightly different procedures.

Before you get started

• Follow the directions carefully. You will have problems if you don't.
• Flashing via wireless is inherently unstable and can result in a bricked router.
• Disable your anti-virus-software, as a false-positive virus detection could interrupt the upload.
• Disable any wireless adapters on your system to ensure that the upload goes through the wired connection!
• If you get into trouble, see Recover from a Bad Flash on www.dd-wrt.com.

Flashing via the web interface

1. Download Sputnik-Powered DD-WRT firmware.

You can download free firmware from Sputnik (strongly encouraged to ensure compatibility) or from www.dd-wrt.com. After you agree to the Sputnik Agent License Agreement, you’ll see a file listing.

2. Flash the AP with the firmware.

Please note: The following steps apply to supported Linksys APs. Certain AP models from other manufacturers may require additional steps to reflash properly. For the following APs, refer to DD-WRT documentation for complete instructions:

• Asus WL500G Deluxe
• Buffalo WBR-G54, WBR2-G54, WBR2-G54S
• Buffalo WHR-G54S
• Motorola WR850G
• Siemens Gigaset SE505

Associate wirelessly with the access point, making sure it has a working broadband connection to the Internet (you'll need that in Step 3).

For best results, reset the AP to factory default settings; on a Linksys WRT, press the reset button for ten seconds. Then use the AP’s built-in web management console to perform a flash upgrade with the firmware that you downloaded in Step 1. The default URL for a Linksys WRT’s management console is: http://192.168.1.1; leave the username field blank and enter “admin” into the password field.

Please note: After the flash upgrade is complete, the default username and password become “root” and “admin” respectively. If you changed your password before reflashing the AP, and chose to keep your settings, your new password will be preserved, however you will still need to enter “root” as the username.

When the Firmware upgrade is complete, the AP will reboot itself. Warning: do not interrupt the upgrade process.

3. Configure the AP for management.

Browse to the management interface of the AP. You should now see the standard DD-WRT web interface. Note: if you do not see the DD-WRT interface, browse to “Administration”, select “Management”, and click on “Save Settings”.

To set up your AP for management by Sputnik Control Center or SputnikNet, browse to “Administration”, then “Hotspot”. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the screen. There you’ll find the Sputnik settings.

You have the following choices:

Sputnik Agent

• Enable the Sputnik Agent to turn it on.
• Disable the Sputnik Agent to turn it off.

Sputnik Server ID

• Select “Use Sputnik Instant Setup” (the default) if you want to provision the AP using Sputnik Instant Setup (this is the default option).
• Select “Use SputnikNet Express” if you intend to use the AP with the SputnikNet Express service.
• Or, select the third option and enter the site name and fully qualified domain name (site@FQDN) of your Sputnik Control Center or SputnikNet server.

Click on "Save Settings" for your changes to apply.

If you selected the Sputnik Instant Setup option, re-associate with the AP, and browse to your home page. You will be re-directed to the Sputnik Instant Setup page.

Enter the name of the Sputnik Control Center server or SputnikNet Account that will manage your AP. Click “Assign”.

The AP will connect to the appropriate site, is automatically registered, provisioned, and is then ready for remote management.

4. Check to be sure the Sputnik Agent is running, and communicating with the Sputnik server.

Browse to the AP’s web-based management console and click on “Status”, then “Sputnik Agent”.

You should see a section called “Sputnik® Agent™ Information” showing the name of the Sputnik management server, the status of the Sputnik Agent, and the license number of the management server.

If the Sputnik Agent is running properly, Sputnik Agent State should be “Running normally - Managed”.

Troubleshooting Tip: If your Linksys WRT is connected to a router that has the IP address of 192.168.1.1, be sure to change your AP’s Local IP address (for example, to 192.168.190.1) or you will not be able to get Internet access.

5. Manage the AP.

Now you can manage the AP as you would any Sputnik-Powered access point: track usage, set network policy, define captive portal, redirect page and walled garden, link to billing systems. For more information, refer to online documentation for Sputnik Control Center or SputnikNet.

6. Getting support.

Sputnik provides a range of support options for Sputnik-Powered APs, Sputnik Control Center software, and the SputnikNet service.

Understand that reflashing your access point may violate the manufacturer’s warrantee and may render the unit inoperable. Reflashing an AP is for experienced users only.